John-lowe



(No Model.)

J. LOWE.-

FOLDING 00MB.

No. 257,033. I PatentedApr. 25;1882.

W aj-y Jpfww BY MM ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN'LOWE, OF CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO CAROLINE M. LOWE, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING COMB.

SPECIFICATION forming 'part of Letters Patent No. 257,033, dated April 25, 1882.

Application filed March 8, 1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, JOHN LOWE, of Clinton, in the countyof Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Folding Comb, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to protect the teeth of folding combs from being broken and from paining and smarting the hands and fingers of the persons using the comb.

The invention consists in a folding comb formed of two pivoted combs and a plate pivoted between them, which plate is provided with opposite grooved flanges adapted to receive the ends of the teeth of the combs when the combs are folded, whereby the teeth will be prevented from being broken, and the bands will be protected from being pained by the teeth of that comb that is used as ahandle for the other comb.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my im proved folding comb, showing it partly unfolded. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, showing it folded.

Two combs, A and B, made of rubber, celluloid, bone, or any other suitable material, are pivoted to each other by means of a pintle, O, in such a manner as to swing in parallel planes. The combs are pivoted in such a manner that when they are swung apart all the teeth will project in the same direction, but when the combs are folded the teeth will project in opposite directions.

A plate, D, of rubber, metal, horn, celluloid, or other suitable material, is pivoted between the two combs by the pintle O. The plate D is provided at the longitudinal edges with flanges E and F, projecting from opposite sides of the plate and bent downward toward the opposite edges of the plate, so as to form longitudinal pockets for receiving the ends of the teeth.

The combs A and B are provided with shoulders G and H in the back or upper or outer edges atthe pivoted ends. When the combs are folded the ends of the teeth pass in- (No model.)

to the longitudinal pockets or grooved flanges E F, whereby the combs will be held in place and the ends of the teeth will be protected from being broken. If one comb-for instance, A- is to be used, it is swung in the direction of the arrow at until its shoulder G rests against the inner end of the longitudinal pocket or grooved flange E, which receives the ends of the teeth of this comb A when the same is folded. The back of the comb A will then be on a line with the grooved flange E. The ends of the teeth of the other comb, B, will be in the longitudinal pocket or grooved flange F, and will thus be protected from being broken, and will be prevented from paining or smarting the hand of the person holding the comb.

The shoulders G H prevent the combs from being opened too far. The comb B is opened and used in a similar manner as the comb A, as described.

I am aware that the backs of folding combs have been provided with grooved flanges projectin g from the adjoining surfaces for receiving the ends of the teeth of the other comb;

but more material and labor are required to make such combs, and consequently they are more expensive than my improved folding combs. Furthermore, they only protect the ends of the teeth of the combs, but do not protect the hands from being pained by the ends of the teeth of the comb that is being used as a handle for the other comb.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A folding comb made substantially as herein shown and described, and containing the following elements, to wit: two pivoted combs and a plate pivoted between them, which plate is provided with grooved flanges for receiving the ends of the teeth of the combs when the combs are folded, whereby the teeth of the combs will be protected from being broken off and the hands will be protected from being pained by the ends of the teeth, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the pivoted combs A and B, of the plate D, pivoted between them, which plate is provided with opposite grooved flanges E and F, substantially as F, substantially as herein shown and deherein shown and described, and for the purscribed, and for the purposes set forth.

pose set forth.

3. The combination, with the combs A and JOHN LOWE 5 B, provided with the shoulders G and H in Witnesses:

the backs at the pivoted ends, of the plate D, DEXTER NEWTON, provided with opposite grooved flanges E and J. W. FAIRBANKS. 

